A new poll finds that a large majority of Americans expressed concerns about President Joe Biden’s fitness to remain in office. The Fox News poll reflects a number of other recent surveys that cast doubts on the 80-year-old president’s ability to serve a second term in the White House.
The poll, released this week, finds that 61% of the public believes that Biden does not have the “mental soundness” to serve as president. Only 36% believe that he does. More than a quarter of Democrats believe that Biden does not have the mental capacity to serve in office.
This reflects a significant growth of concern. The same question in October 2022, when only 56% agreed with the sentiment. The year prior it was 48%.
In the same September 2021 poll, taken shortly after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, 49% believed that Biden did have the capacity to continue serving in office.
On the other hand, former President Donald Trump’s figures have improved. Among the American public, the share that believes that he is unable to serve due to mental fitness went down since a May survey. The percentage of the public that believes that he does have such a capacity went up, from 43% to 46%.
This figure is also above the findings of a July 2020 poll, when Trump was president.
In addition, Biden also received bad news regarding his reputation. Following the announcement of a formal impeachment probe by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), 48% of the public said that they would use the word “corrupt” to describe the president.
This is up considerably from the 41% who believed the same just prior to the 2020 election. This figure includes 11% of Democrats.
Furthermore, the poll found Biden being bested by Trump in a 2024 rematch. Trump would receive 48% in such a contest, with Biden behind at 46%. Trump received the highest figures among the Republicans seeking the nomination for president.
🇺🇲 2024 GE: FOX NEWS POLL (A-)
Trump 48% (+2)
Biden 46%Biden 47% (+3)
DeSantis 44%Haley 45% (+2)
Biden 43%Pence 44% (+1)
Biden 43%Biden 44% (+1)
Scott 43%Ramaswamy 45% (+1)
Biden 44%Biden 42% (+1)
Christie 41%September 9-12 | 1,012 RV https://t.co/loLWssVpCu
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) September 14, 2023
Furthermore, Trump made up significant ground since polling taken before the 2020 election. Trump received significantly higher support from a number of demographic groups, including women, Black voters, Latino voters and younger voters.